Abstract: Septic patients are treated with an enteral or parenteral diet that improves mortality rate of the septic patients. The diet which is designed to provide the total caloric intake for the septic patient includes an low concentration of calories provided by protein. Generally from about 4% to about 10% of the calories in the diet are provided by protein. More preferably no more than 5% of the calories are provided by protein. The remainder of the diet is formed from lipids, and carbohydrates. The lipids should be in the form of a combination of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids. The diet will also include a vitamin and mineral supplement.

Abstract: The immune response of a patient can be improved pre-operatively by altering the diet of a patient. When 20 to about 80% of the calories in a diet are from linoleic acid which is an omega 6 fatty acid, the immune response system and resistance to infection of the patient is substantially improved. Likewise providing 100 to about 1,000 IU per day of vitamin E in the diet also improves the immune response of the patient pre-operatively. This in turn improves the survival rate of the patient.